Selector Linda Zondi has explained the absence of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and batsman Faf du Plessis from the Proteas squad for next month’s ODI series against England.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has succeeded Du Plessis as captain after the latter wasn’t named in the 15-man squad. Rabada, fellow fast bowler Anrich Nortje and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius were also excluded.
‘Faf hasn’t retired. He is still in our plans, but it is important in terms of succession plans that we look at other options,’ Zondi told Sport24.
‘It is the same for Rabada. It is about managing workloads and this is an important year for us in T20 cricket with the World Cup coming up towards the end of the year in Australia in September.
‘It’s just about giving opportunities to other guys. Anrich was going to be one of our key bowlers at the World Cup before he got injured and he has been bowling a lot in the Test series, so there is no way that we are throwing him or anyone else away.’
Opening batsman Aiden Markram was not selected. He is still recovering from a finger injury sustained during the ongoing Test series against England.
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